Business Details
46 Years
experience
Empowering Generosity for Kingdom Impact
Since 1980, Waterstone has guided donors and financial advisors through over $3 billion in charitable contributions, specializing in tax-efficient giving strategies for complex assets like real estate and business interests. Our mission centers on empowering generosity that aligns with biblical principles, helping donors maximize their Kingdom impact while minimizing tax burdens. With decades of experience, we provide tailored solutions including donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, and strategic asset conversions. Our team combines financial expertise with spiritual stewardship to ensure gifts are structured for long-term impact. We serve a growing community of donors, advisors, and ministries, supported by a track record of $1.3 billion in grants and partnerships with organizations like Caplin Ventures and LimeMedia.Transparency, ethical compliance, and client-centric service form the foundation of our approach. As an ECFA-accredited organization, we maintain rigorous financial accountability while fostering relationships built on trust and shared values. Our leadership team brings extensive experience in finance, law, and ministry to deliver innovative giving solutions. Through educational resources and personalized guidance, we help donors navigate complex charitable decisions with confidence. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in client testimonials highlighting seamless processes and transformative outcomes for communities worldwide.
Services
Real Estate Donations
Business Interests
Appreciated Gifts
Charitable Trusts
Giving Fund
Charity Advised Fund
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We offer 45+ years of experience in faith-based charitable giving strategies
- Our team specializes in tax-efficient solutions for complex assets like real estate
- We provide personalized donor-advised fund management with spiritual stewardship
- Our ECFA accreditation ensures financial accountability and ethical compliance
- We've facilitated $1.3 billion in grants to support global ministry initiatives
Associations and certifications
- Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
What people say
Smooth donation process
Maximized Kingdom impact
Expert tax guidance
Faith-aligned stewardship
Trusted partner
Services
Real Estate Donations
Transform real estate holdings into tax-efficient charitable contributions. Our experts guide donors through property valuation, title transfer, and tax deduction optimization while ensuring alignment with ministry goals. Donors benefit from reduced capital gains taxes and increased charitable impact through strategic property donations.
Business Interests
Donate privately held business interests to support charitable causes while receiving tax benefits. We help business owners structure equity transfers that minimize tax liabilities and maximize charitable impact, providing a strategic exit path that aligns with both financial and spiritual objectives.
Charitable Trusts
Establish income-generating charitable trusts that provide financial security while supporting causes. Our trust solutions offer donors immediate tax deductions, potential income streams, and long-term impact through structured giving vehicles that balance personal and philanthropic goals.
Giving Fund
Manage charitable contributions through flexible donor-advised funds with tax advantages. This solution allows donors to make irrevocable contributions, receive immediate tax deductions, and recommend grant distributions over time to support evolving ministry needs and personal charitable priorities.
Appreciated Gifts
Convert appreciated assets like securities into charitable contributions. Our specialists help donors avoid capital gains taxes while maximizing donation value through strategic timing and asset management, ensuring both financial efficiency and meaningful charitable impact.
People
Ken Harrison
CEO
Former commercial real estate executive with 20+ years leadership experience. Served as Colliers International executive. Author of three books on faith and leadership. Marine Corps veteran and former LAPD officer.
John Mulder
Chief Generosity Advisor
22-year financial services executive with banking and trust company leadership experience. Holds MBA from University of Chicago. Served on multiple ministry boards. Taught finance at Northwestern College.
Rick von Gnechten
Chief Operating Officer
30-year financial executive with NYSE company CFO experience. Master's from Dartmouth Tuck School. Served on Christian school boards. Expertise in strategic planning and capital raising for diverse industries.
Chris Start
Chief Financial Officer
CPA with 16 years financial leadership experience at Procter & Gamble and Moody Bible Institute. Holds MBA and MS in Accounting from University of Illinois. Serves as volunteer sports coach in Colorado Springs.
Stephanie Hoff
Senior Gift Strategist
Licensed CPA specializing in non-cash asset planning. Graduated from Calvin College. Serves donors from Colorado Springs office with customized charitable strategies for real estate and business interests.
Questions
What types of assets can I donate to WaterStone?
We accept real estate, business interests, appreciated securities, cash, and marketable securities. Our specialists help donors maximize tax benefits through strategic asset conversion.
How do charitable remainder trusts work?
Charitable remainder trusts provide income for life while supporting your chosen causes. Donors receive immediate tax deductions and avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated assets.
Can I recommend specific charities for my donations?
Yes, our donor-advised fund allows you to recommend grant distributions to qualified charities while receiving tax benefits upfront through our Giving Fund.
What tax benefits are available for real estate donations?
Real estate donations qualify for fair market value deductions while eliminating capital gains taxes. Our team helps structure transactions to maximize both tax savings and charitable impact.
How long does the donation process take?
Simple donations complete in 2-4 weeks. Complex assets like real estate typically take 60-90 days. We provide timeline guidance and coordinate all documentation for smooth transactions.
Do you work with financial advisors?
Yes, we partner with advisors to enhance client services. Our team provides specialized support for complex gifts while maintaining advisor-client relationships and investment control.
